Synonyms:
overture
Meaning: orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
Synonyms:
preliminary, overture, prelude
Meaning: something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
Synonyms:
overture, advance, approach, feeler
Meaning: a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others; "she rejected his advances"
Usage examples
The prelude developed into the operatic overture whose business it became to prepare the spectator for what followed.
All these sentimental feelings are at any rate mere preludes, but preludes in fortunate cases to more discriminating and solid interests, which such a tremulous overture may possibly pitch on a higher key.